Mercy Gives Hope, Tries To Curb Blood Shortage
Mike Bloom
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: News
Denise Gabriele-Poulin had a long, green bandage wrapped over her right arm. It was snug enough so her arm could heal properly, but didn't cut off her circulation. Gabriele-Poulin had just given blood in the Mercy College gymnasium. It's her way of giving back to the community she loves.
Gabriele-Poulin is the Director of Residential Life at Mercy, a job she cherishes dearly. She, along with her husband, the New York Blood Center, and some medics held one of Mercy's two-annual Blood Drives on April 8; one on Halloween and one around Easter time.
The mood in the gymnasium was very festive, extremely positive. But Gabriele-Poulin's message is a very serious one.
"I want students to understand the value of giving back to the community," said Gabriele-Poulin.
And giving back is just what Westchester County needs.
"Any blood we get we send out to Westchester. Westchester is always in a blood shortage," Gabriele-Poulin stated.
According to a July 2007 article by the United Press International, "The inventory level of all blood types at the New York Blood Center is critically low, and an emergency appeal for donations has been issued."
The New York Blood Center, founded in the 1960's, has provided the New York community with the highest quality of transfusion products and services, as well as leading-edge research, technological and medical care innovation, and education in the field of transfusion medicine.
New York Blood Center's slogan reads "Donate blood now. People can't live without it."
The New York Blood Center specifically outlines certain blood types and how readily available they are. According to the "ABC's of Your ABO's" blood chart, there are five different types of blood that can be donated; A+, A-, B, AB, and O.
Each category of blood has sub-categories, which hold a slim margin of the population on earth. For example, only one percent of the world's population has AB- blood type as compared to 35 percent of the population that carries A+ blood. However, every type of blood is useful for donation.
Gabriele-Poulin is the Director of Residential Life at Mercy, a job she cherishes dearly. She, along with her husband, the New York Blood Center, and some medics held one of Mercy's two-annual Blood Drives on April 8; one on Halloween and one around Easter time.
The mood in the gymnasium was very festive, extremely positive. But Gabriele-Poulin's message is a very serious one.
"I want students to understand the value of giving back to the community," said Gabriele-Poulin.
And giving back is just what Westchester County needs.
"Any blood we get we send out to Westchester. Westchester is always in a blood shortage," Gabriele-Poulin stated.
According to a July 2007 article by the United Press International, "The inventory level of all blood types at the New York Blood Center is critically low, and an emergency appeal for donations has been issued."
The New York Blood Center, founded in the 1960's, has provided the New York community with the highest quality of transfusion products and services, as well as leading-edge research, technological and medical care innovation, and education in the field of transfusion medicine.
New York Blood Center's slogan reads "Donate blood now. People can't live without it."
The New York Blood Center specifically outlines certain blood types and how readily available they are. According to the "ABC's of Your ABO's" blood chart, there are five different types of blood that can be donated; A+, A-, B, AB, and O.
Each category of blood has sub-categories, which hold a slim margin of the population on earth. For example, only one percent of the world's population has AB- blood type as compared to 35 percent of the population that carries A+ blood. However, every type of blood is useful for donation.
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